No fewer than 29 people were killed in Adamawa State, Governor Umar Fintiri confirmed on Monday.
Residents said the attackers targeted young people who had assembled at a football pitch, marking yet another episode of violence in Nigeria.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening in Guyaku community, Gombi Local Government Area of the North-East state, near the Cameroon border—an area frequently affected by insurgent and criminal activities.
The attack comes at a time when Nigeria’s security challenges are drawing increasing attention both domestically and internationally, especially with general elections less than a year away.
Governor Fintiri, who visited the community on Monday, confirmed the death toll, according to a statement by his spokesperson on social media.
Residents corroborated the figures.
A local resident, Philip Agabus, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that villagers had gathered at the football pitch when insurgents stormed the area and began shooting indiscriminately.
Another resident, Joshua Usman, said the victims were mostly youths, including some women watching the match. He added that the attackers also burned places of worship, homes, and motorcycles.
The governor’s office, citing a community leader, Aggrey Ali, said the assailants operated for hours, killing residents and destroying property.
Footage aired on local television showed a burnt church and several charred motorcycles.
While Governor Fintiri blamed Boko Haram militants, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) later claimed responsibility, stating that it killed at least 25 Christians and set fire to a church and nearly 100 motorcycles, according to the SITE monitoring group.
Fintiri condemned the attack, vowing that it would not go unpunished and promising intensified security operations to restore peace.
Since 2009, insurgency led by Boko Haram and ISWAP has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions in Nigeria’s North-East, according to the United Nations. The conflict has also spread to neighbouring Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
Nigeria is now seeking technical and training support from the United States to strengthen its military operations against insurgents amid a resurgence of violence.
Another Attack On Lamurde
In a separate incident on Sunday, over 100 kilometres away in Lamurde area, another attack occurred, reportedly linked to farmland disputes in several villages.
Bulus Daniel, Chairman of the Lamurde Local Government Council, confirmed that lives and properties were lost.
15 Pupils, Proprietor’s Wife Rescued In Kogi
Meanwhile, in Kogi State, security forces rescued 15 pupils abducted alongside 23 children and the wife of a school proprietor during an attack on an unregistered orphanage and school.
The State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, confirmed the rescue and said efforts were ongoing to secure the release of the remaining victims.
School abductions remain a persistent problem in Nigeria due to weak security and ransom demands by perpetrators.
Despite repeated government assurances, mass kidnappings continue to disrupt education, commerce, and travel, raising concerns among citizens about the effectiveness of security measures.